The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. TUESDAY, AUGUST 23, 1881.

Kumara Times, Issue 1530, 23 August 1881, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. TUESDAY, AUGUST 23, 1881.

The net amount paid by the Kumara Amateur Dramatic Club to the funds of the Hospital, as the proceeds of the late performance, was £76 14s ; and as this is subsidised to an equal amount by the Government,, the gross proceeds to the .Hospital funds will be the handsome sum of £153 Bs, less £ls expenses.

The Kumara Amateur Dramatic Club announce that they will give a performance on the 9th September, for the purpose of assisting the Club in the purchase of wardrobe, properties, &c. The pieces announced bank,” and the sparkling musical comedy of “ Swiss Swains," are sure to draw, as the amateurs deserve, a good house. Saturday’s Christchurch “Liberty ” informs its readers that “ Mr M‘Ennis is to be R.M. at Kumara.” If news be doled out in this careless way, we are not sur? prised at the recent discomfiture of “Liberty’s” nearer neighbors. Replying to questions by Mr Reeves inthe House on Wednesday last, the Hon. W, Rolleston said that a reserve would be laid out for cemetery purposes at the junction of the main Grey Valley and Maori Gully roads; and the Hon. J. TTa.ll said that inquiries would be made as to the advisability of reducing passenger fares on the Brunner-Grey mouth line. The work had been an expensive one however, and' Government would have to see that some profit was made out of its working.—Replying to Mr Weston, the Hon. W. Rolleston said that claims for reward for the discovery of goldfields at Seventeen-Mile Beach, West Coast, had been disposed of, and unless something new had cropped up he saw no reason for disturbing the adjustment already made. Sir Modred, Somnus, Idalium, and Hilarious were to be taken to Melbourne on Friday last by the Te Anau.

, An interesting billiard match for £IOO a-side and the championship of the colonies has been made, to be played in Sydney in September, between Joseph Byrne, the well-known marker of the Victorian Club, Melbourne, and James, the marker at the Oxford Hotel, Sydney, acknowledged to be the best player in the colony of New South Wales, Mr Alcock, the celebrated billiard-table manufacturer, will provide a new table for the occasion. The match will be played in the Masonichall, Melbourne, the scene of some of John Roberts’s greatest triumphs.

The Bank of New Zealand, anticipating an increased yield of gold in the district, have commenced the erection of a new and more commodious smelting-house at Reefton, which for the sake of safety and greater convenience (the Times says) is detached from the main building. Firstclass furnaces with all modern appliances will render the treatment of the largest parcels a matter of easy accomplishment. Last year, 97 harmoniums, 58 organs, 705 pianos, and 193 other musical instruments, were imported into New Zealand. Their total value was L 22,267. Who will say we are not a musical people 1

The manufacture of cigarettes is a new industry at Christchurch. An old gentleman named Blake, living at the Thames, is said to be the heir to a property in London worth £170,000.

The heaviest fall of snow we have ever experienced fell during the beginning of last week (says the Dunstan Times), covering the surrounding mountains and hills with a mantle of virgin whiteness. On the Dunstan Flat it lay to a depth of fully six inches.

A son of Mr Kelland, residing near Amberley, la?t Thursday afternoon by some means got his hands caught in the rope by which his horse was tied up at a store, and the horse pulling back, tore part of his thumb and part of two fingers off.

Mr Jay Gould recently drew a cheque for L 500,000. Mr Gould’s whole fortune when he first went to New York consisted Of a patent mousetrap. The first competition for the new Championship of England Challenge Cup, of the value of 200 guineas, presented by the proprietors of the Sportsman, will take place on the Tyne, at'Newcastle;about the latter end of September next. Mr and Mrs W. E. Gladstone recently appeared in a London Police Court to assist in the prosecution of a deaf and dumb man for obtaining assistance on fraudulent representations.